Raleigh receives additional TIGER funds for Union Station complex

The city of Raleigh, N.C., has received a $5.5 million increase to a previously received grant for the first phase of construction of the Raleigh Union Station complex.

The increase in the award allows for right-of-way acquisition associated with the project and does not require an increase in the matching local funds being provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The increase was made to the original $21 million awarded from the United States Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2012 discretionary grant program. The city received notice of the first award on June 22, 2012. The grant was intended to pay for the rail infrastructure required to move passenger services from the existing Amtrak station to a location inside the railroad wye.

The city was previously awarded a $10 million TIGER 2013 grant to complete the rehabilitation of the former Dillon Supply warehouse Downtown to the main passenger terminal.

"We are thrilled by the news of this grant and appreciate the continued support of the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration to help secure funding to move the station forward," said Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane at the time the award was given.

Construction on the Raleigh Union Station is scheduled to begin in early 2015.